Experimenting: Smartphone Photography of your Backyard Critters

Are you one of those people who delights in backyard birds and critters? If so, you’ve probably taken photos of those cute little faces. It’s hard as the dickens to even get a camera on them. When it does happen, the image tends to be  blurry – a fuzzy semblance of what you’ve seen. The critter or bird seemed close to you, but it’s a small dot on the photograph. The bird feeder might end up taking up most of the image. Sound familiar?

I’ve spent hours photographing squirrels in our back yard with professional equipment. There are some easy ways to improve your cell phone photography. Start with the camera you have, follow some guidelines, have patience, and take lots of photos. Those are the key characteristics.

Start with the Camera You Have

Maybe the only camera you have on hand is your cell phone. They are handy, no-fuss, no-muss cameras. Most of us have them. The photos in this article were shot with my iPhone SE ( The iOS 17.5.1 came out around 2020 with features similar to the iPhone 11.) It does not have the newest bells and whistles. Spoiler alert: I’ve found that the backyard critter needs to be squirrel-sized to get good photos. When I first started photography, we had a Fuji HS/50 on hand. The lens was fixed. It had a nice 42x optical zoom. It was a great starter camera.

Whatever your camera is, start with the camera you have. The same techniques and gear used in AzarÉl Greetings’ photography can be applied to your camera.

Timing is Everything

Morning people have a definite advantage in bird and critter photography. Birds greet the dawn with singing – literally! They are naturally active until about 10 am. (Active without the multiple servings of coffee or tea that you might enjoy as you wait!) Birds get quiet during the hottest hours. In late afternoon and evening, some activity picks up again. Squirrels are happy to eat at almost any time of day, although they also prefer cooler temperatures. If you’re a night person, you might prefer photography two hours or so before sunset. Morning and evening with the birds and critters are a relaxing way to bookend your day.

Invite the Birds and Critters Closer

You’ve probably already invited the birds to your yard using bird feeders. Bring them in closer. Put an indoor water fountain outside. Feed them on your deck railing. As you think about where to place the food, consider the direction of the sun. In photography, it’s a good general rule to have the sun coming from behind you. Place the food on the railing where you can position your chair seven to eight feet away with the sun coming from behind you.  Give the wildlife lots of space. The birds need to get used to seeing the new invader of their feeding territory. Gaining their confidence takes time. Sit quietly. When you need to move, use leisurely movements. Sloooowly sip your morning coffee (tea or preferred caffeine) and do some reading. Over days and weeks, gradually move your chair closer.

Shoot at Eye-Level

Taking photographs on eye level typically creates the best-looking photos. Compare the photo of the squirrel at the fountain with the photos below. Eye-level shots, up-shots, and down-shots change the whole “feeling” of the photo.

This is an upshot. I was sitting on the deck feeding my cat. The upshot makes the squirrel look powerful. This is a technique used in movies. There’s some blurriness because the squirrel was an eating macine in motion!

This is a down shot that gives a whole different “feel”. I was sitting in a chair; the squirrel was on the deck. Sigh…Squirrels are such messy eaters. Will I ever have a clean deck for more than ten seconds?

Get Ready to Shoot

Now that you’ve allowed the birds and critters a proper amount of introductory time, prepare your cell phone.  Disable the camera click sound or turn the volume down. Set your camera so that it doesn’t go to sleep. If your camera allows it, you might like to blur the background. Sit with each elbow propped on an arm of my chair. This creates a very stable hold on the phone. Apply the amount of zoom that makes your subject appropriately fill the screen. Keep in mind that the more the zoom and cropping, the lesser the picture quality. (Compare the squirrel photo from 18” away with the one 4’ away.) The cell phone needs to be ready when the wildlife appears. Settle in comfortably to wait. As you watch the birds feed, you’ll become familiar with their movements and be able to time your shot to catch them in the most flattering positions. It takes a lot of photos to get the best shot! Save the first photo that you took so it can be compared with later images. You’ll be able to see the improvement!

“Squiffy” is snacking about four feet away. The zoom is at 100%. There’s a nice glint in his eye. Zooming in has caused a lack of definition and crispness.

Squiffy is also bolder than the rest of the squirrels. He allowed me to extend my arms until the camera was only about eighteen inches away from him. The twinkle in his eye is crisp and the fluff of his tail is clear. Being this close makes a huge difference in clarity and quality. (Zoom 0% )

Honestly, I’ve discovered that my cell phone is only good enough to photograph squirrels well. The photos in this article were shot with my iPhone SE (iOS 17.5.1) that came out around 2020 with features similar to the iPhone 11. That’s pretty old technology.

This is my best bird photograph taken with my Smartphone. This fellow and other members of the flock wait for me in the morning. They expect their peanutty breakfast to be on time! This was taken about four feet away. Using a good deal of zoom, he fills a nice chunk of the image. As bold and loud as they are, blue jays are skittish. He was leary of me and in motion.

Tufted titmice love peanuts too! This was taken at four feet away with 100% zoom and no cropping. It’s hard to get good shots of the littlest birds!

Additional Inexpensive Equipment

Constantly holding the camera can become tedious. A tripod will hold the camera perfectly steady. This helps avoid blur from unintentionally moving your hand. It also allows you to relax when you sit.  However, a tripod will take away the ability to track the bird.  If the camera is on a tripod, focus on the small pile of seeds. If you were a bird, isn’t that where you’d be? There are inexpensive ($20-ish) tripods available for cell phones. Be sure to do your research and find the price and quality of equipment that suits your needs.

Here’s an article on cell phone tripods to get you started:
https://www.techradar.com/best/best-phone-tripods

A shutter release cord is also very helpful. Both wired and wireless versions are available. (The one AzarÉl Greetings photography uses is wired.) The shutter release allows your camera to be closer to the action while you sit further away. If you’re buying a cord, make sure that the cable fits your phone. Sometimes an adapter is necessary. Using a tripod and shutter release cord mimics what I do with my Nikon D500 camera and professional equipment.

Conclusion

If you’re interested in this type of photography with your cell phone, consider investing in one with a great camera. I know I’ll be looking to upgrade the quality of the camera on my Smartphone! Check out this list of top-rated Smartphones for photography:
https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-camera-phones

It’s relaxing to spend time on your deck with nature. The peacefulness seeps into your bones. Place a pile of seeds on the deck railing. Strategically position your chair with the sun behind you. Gain the trust of the wildlife and move closer. Take tons and tons of photos. You’ll get lots of pictures of your backyard friends!
Be sure to check out “Coffee and Friends” and other photos at AzarElGreetings.com .

Smiles!